UK Press unite against the gambling bill

According to an article on the BBC News website the bulk of the UK press has decided that gambling expansion is not a good thing and have come out strongly with headlines denouncing the Labour Party's proposed 'reforms'.

Whilst tabloid the 'Daily Mail' (see previous post) has their 'Kill the Bill' campaign, even broadsheets such as The Guardian (who have a special report on the topic here) have come out against the bill.

This turn of events has put the government into defense mode, with Culture Minister, Lord McIntosh countering with responses to the "10 myths about the gambling bill"

One interesting 'myth' for Australians, is the following as presented by Lord McIntosh

The government has not learnt from Australia's failed deregulation. "This is in fact the opposite of the truth. I have seen for myself what a disaster the Australian model has been and it is one we have deliberately avoided."

However 11 Labour members of the House of Commons, put their names to a motion opposing the expansion of the casino sector clearly demonstrating that the ruling party is divided on this issue.
So this issue is clearly yet to be decided and with the press, opposition parties and even some of the Labour party's own parliamentarians opposed this bill is not assured to be passed, in its current form at least.

Is this opposition a sign of the times, or is it just the UK learning from Australia's mistakes? Is there something we can learn from the process to apply here especially with the relicensing process about to commence in Victoria?

What do you think?

GG